Coronaviruses cause respiratory infections in humans and animals. The two people infected so far presented with fever, cough and breathing difficulties.
The patient in Saudi Arabia died. The patient in London is being treated in intensive care.
At this point it is not clear whether these cases are typical of infection with this virus or whether it could be circulating more widely and only very rarely causing a severe illness.
How is it spread?
It is likely the virus is spread in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
But experts believe it is not very contagious. If it were, we would have seen more cases in other countries or the people caring for these two cases, the first of which occurred more than three months ago.
Coronaviruses are fairly fragile. Outside of the body they can only survive for a day and are easily destroyed by usual detergents and cleaning agents.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19699677
What does it do?
Coronaviruses cause respiratory infections in humans and animals. The two people infected so far presented with fever, cough and breathing difficulties.
The patient in Saudi Arabia died. The patient in London is being treated in intensive care.
At this point it is not clear whether these cases are typical of infection with this virus or whether it could be circulating more widely and only very rarely causing a severe illness.
How is it spread?
It is likely the virus is spread in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
But experts believe it is not very contagious. If it were, we would have seen more cases in other countries or the people caring for these two cases, the first of which occurred more than three months ago.
Coronaviruses are fairly fragile. Outside of the body they can only survive for a day and are easily destroyed by usual detergents and cleaning agents.